Here’s how I see it; suppose that an urban city has 900 addicts (I’m totally making all numbers up here, just pay attention to the concepts). In the next few years:
Of those addicts: 300 will spend significant time in jail for committing crimes to support their addictions, 300 more will eventually die from an OD, car crash or whatever and the last 300 will recover and go on with life after being admitted to a rehab center or going cold turkey. – All of these folks got themselves into their own messes.
To support their habits there might be 90 local drug gang members/dealers; almost all of whom will eventually either be killed or spend most of their lives in jail. – All of these folks got themselves into their own messes.
Collateral damage by gang bangers will take out 9 innocent bystanders, some of whom are children. - None of these folks did anything to bring such fate upon themselves (besides living in the wrong place).
18,000 citizens will be the victims of theft crimes by addicts in search of cash or loot to support their habits. - None of these folks did anything to bring such fate upon themselves.
9 citizens will die during theft crimes turned violent by addicts in search of cash or loot to support their habits. - None of these folks did anything to bring such fate upon themselves.
18 citizens will be the victims vehicular by addicts driving high. - None of these folks did anything to bring such fate upon themselves.
To deal with all of these folks and their crimes, the city and federal government may employ 30 officers, one of whom might be killed in the line of duty. All of their salaries are paid by tax payers.
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Now let’s look at that city if drugs had been legalized and affordable.
I think that this is a massive exaggeration, but let’s suppose that the city now has 1,200 addicts (300 would be law abiding citizens turned addicts once drugs became legal).
Of those addicts: 400 will spend significant time in jail for committing crimes to support their addictions, 400 more will eventually die from an OD, car crash or whatever and the last 400 will recover and go on with life after being admitted to a rehab center or going cold turkey. – All of these folks got themselves into their own messes.
24 citizens will be the victims vehicular by addicts driving high. - None of these folks did anything to bring such fate upon themselves.
12 innocent citizens are alive and well. (6 more citizens die in accidents, but 18 less die during drug related crimes.)
Taxes, security expenses and home insurance rates have dropped.
30 drug cops have other jobs.
90 would be gang bangers have either turned to other crimes, are on welfare or got real jobs.
18,000 people have all of their stuff.
The citizens of the city feel safer; tourism and the economy are better off.